3 killed in suicide bombing in Kabul

KABUL, June 18 (Xinhua) -- At least three civilians were killed and many others wounded Tuesday morning when a suicide bombing hit west of Afghan capital Kabul, witnesses said.

"A suicide bomber targeted the convoy of Hajji Mohammad Muaqiq, a member of lower house of Afghan parliament but Muaqiq escaped the attack," a witness told Xinhua.

The attack took place in Pul-e-Surkh area, where the Afghan Human Rights office is also located.

The blast went off at around 9:10 a.m. local time, sending a thick black smoke above the area, the witness said.

The government troops immediately cordoned off the area shortly after the blast. Police are working to keep people from gathering at the scene for fears that there might be a second blast.

Three civilian passersby are confirmed dead and several others were wounded, local TV channel Tolo News reported.

The incident took place hours before the country announces the final phase of security transition from U.S. and NATO troops to the Afghan army and police. The incident happened while the security in Kabul was tightening as an official ceremony is underway to mark the security transition.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but Taliban suspects routinely claim responsibility for such attacks. On June 11, the Taliban carried out a suicide car bombing on the Supreme Court in central Kabul, killing 17 people and injuring 50 others.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group launched annual rebel offensive in April against Afghan government forces and about 100,000 NATO-led troops stationed in the country.